71 Proposal II / 8

PROPOSAL FOR INCLUSION OF SPECIES ON THE APPENDICES OF THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS

A. PROPOSAL: Listing of the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis (entire population) in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

B. PROPONENT: Republic of South Africa.

C. SUPPORTING STATEMENT

1. Taxon

1.1 Class Aves 1.2 Order Procellariiformes 1.3 Family Procellariidae 1.4 Genus & Species Procellaria aequinoctialis (Linnaeus, 1758) 1.5 Common names English: White-chinned Petrel, Shoemaker French: Puffin à menton blanc German: Weisskinn-Sturmvogel Spanish: Pardela Gorgiblanca

2. Biological data

2.1 Distribution

Circumpolar pelagic range in the Southern Ocean, in southern cool-temperate, sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters as far north as c. 15S off Angola and Peru. Breeding range between 47-55S, on cool temperate and sub-Antarctic islands (see Table 1 below) to the north of the Antarctic Polar Front. Historical distribution not known to be different from current.

2.2 Population

No accurate censuses of breeding numbers, and therefore of trends, exist for this burrowing species at any breeding locality. The table below sets out best estimates, mostly made prior to any decreases due to mortality caused by longline fisheries. Over the period 1980/81–1992/93 at-sea surveys have shown an 86% decrease in abundance of White-chinned Petrels in the Prydz Bay region of Antarctica.

Table 1. Estimates of breeding populations of White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis

Locality Responsible Nature Reserve Population authority status (breeding pairs) Prince Edward Islands South Africa Yes 10s of 1000s (Marion, Prince Edward) Iles Crozet Ile de la Possession France No 10s of 1000s Ile de l’Est France Yes 10s of 1000s Ile des Pingouins France Yes 10s of 1000s Ilots des Apôtres France Yes 10s of 1000s Iles Kerguelen France Yes (part) 100s of 1000s Antipodes Island New Zealand Yes Plentiful 72 Proposal II / 8

Auckland Islands New Zealand Yes 200 000 Auckland, Adams, (Disappointment Disappointment) only) Campbell Island New Zealand Yes ? (Cambell, Dent, Jacquemart) South Georgia United No 2 000 000 Kingdom Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas United No 100s Kingdom

2.3 Habitat

Marine, ranging widely from coastal to pelagic waters, occurring south to the pack-ice zone and north to sub-tropical waters and to the continental shelves of southern Africa and South America. Extensive pelagic foraging includes following ships and scavenging behind fishing vessels. Breeds in burrows excavated in vegetated slopes on islands. Burrows usually have a pool of water at their entrances.

2.4 Migrations

Only observed at breeding localities during the breeding season (mid-September to mid-April). Incubating birds can move more than 3000 km from their breeding localities, into sub-tropical as well as Antarctic waters. Satellite-tracked birds from Iles Crozet and South Georgia foraged 1) within South African and Patagonian (to 41S) coastal waters, 2) over pelagic waters to the north and south, 3) over the shelf areas surrounding their breeding islands, and 4) at the edge of the Antarctic pack ice (Iles Crozet birds). Birds feeding chicks appear to have smaller foraging ranges but South Georgia birds reach 39S on the Patagonian Shelf. During winter birds move north to sub-tropical waters (vacating the open ocean south of 44oS) and large numbers are common in the coastal waters of South America, South Africa and Australia.

3. Threat data

3.1 Direct threats

The main threats are from incidental mortality from longline fishing activities (see below) and from predation by introduced predators, especially feral cats Felis catus and rats Rattus spp., described by breeding island group below.

Prince Edward Islands: Introduced feral cats Felis catus on Marion Island preyed heavily on chicks and breeding adults leading to low breeding success during the 1970s and 1980s. Cats had been eradicated on Marion Island by 1991. The smaller population on cat-free Prince Edward Island remained unaffected.

Iles Crozet: Feral cats and Black Rats R. rattus have severely affected populations of breeding burrowing petrels, including the White-chinned Petrel, through direct predation on adults, chicks and eggs. Ile de l’Est is the only island of this group that lacks introduced predators.

Iles Kerguelen: Populations of Black Rats and feral cats occur. Although Black Rats are confined to the immediate surrounds of the base, cats are more widespread and have a larger impact. Auckland Islands: Introduced populations of feral cats and pigs Sus scrofa occur on Auckland Island.

Campbell Islands: Introduced populations of feral cats (possibly now extinct) and Brown Rats R. norvegicus occur on Campbell Island. 73 Proposal II / 8

South Georgia: Brown Rats occur and are known to cause losses of eggs and chicks.

3.2 Habitat destruction

Destruction of coastal breeding habitat (Paradiochloa flabellata tussock), the main breeding habitat of the White-chinned Petrel at South Georgia, by Antarctic Fur Seals Arctocephalus gazella is likely to be significantly reducing the breeding population. Domestic sheep (now extirpated) on Campbell Island greatly affected vegetation by grazing and trampling. The effects of this on White-chinned Petrels is unknown. Similarly, the feral pigs on Auckland Island uproot vegetation and may thus affect White-chinned Petrels.

3.3 Indirect threats

Entanglement in marine debris and fishing gear and consumption of plastic particles; accumulation of chemical contaminants; fluctuations in numbers of important prey species; oceanographic change.

3.4 Threats connected especially with migrations

The principal threat to White-chinned Petrels during their breeding and non-breeding migrations and movements is incidental mortality from longline fishing. White-chinned Petrels are at risk, 1) over the shelf areas surrounding their breeding colonies, 2) on the continental shelf areas surrounding South Africa, Australia and South America, and 3) in pelagic waters to the north of their breeding colonies.

Several longline fisheries occur on the continental shelves surrounding South Africa, South America and Australia. All the seabird mortalities reported from the South African demersal longline fishery for hake Merluccius spp., were White-chinned Petrels. An estimated 8000 White-chinned Petrels are caught annually by this fishery. White-chinned Petrels are caught in potentially similar numbers by mid-water and demersal longline fishing operations off the coast of Brazil. Catch rates were highest there during the winter, when White-chinned-Petrels were most frequently sighted. White-chinned Petrels are also being caught in large numbers by pelagic longline fishing for tuna Thunnus spp. It has been estimated that up to 800 White- chinned Petrels may be caught each year by the tuna longline fishery around Australia. Observers on tuna longline vessels off Africa have also reported substantial catches.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has estimated that, in the unregulated longline fishery for Patagonian Toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in the Convention Area in 1998, 31 000-56 000 White-chinned Petrels were caught. This level of bycatch represents a substantial proportion of the species’ population and is unlikely to be sustainable. Longline fishing is concentrated on the shelf areas surrounding the main breeding colonies. More than 70% of the seabird bycatch of this fishery are White-chinned Petrels. White-chinned Petrel mortality peaked during the chick-rearing period (mid-February to mid-March) in the Prince Edward Islands fishery, whereas no bycatch of this species was recorded during the winter months. At South Georgia, White-chinned Petrels also were not caught on longlines after mid-April. More than 80% of the birds caught in the Prince Edward Islands fishery were adult males. A similar male bias has been observed in a small sample from the South Georgia fishery. Because White-chinned Petrels forage actively at night, mitigation measures that restrict longline setting to hours of darkness (required by fisheries within CCAMLR waters to reduce albatross mortality) will not completely eliminate mortality.

Incidental mortality of White-chinned Petrels has also been reported for the squid trawl fishery operating on the shelf and slope waters around the cool-temperate breeding islands south of New Zealand. 74 Proposal II / 8

3.5 National and international utilization

Birds have been taken in the past for human consumption aboard fishing vessels in South African waters, but the current level of exploitation, if any, is unknown. White-chinned Petrels, together with other sub-Antarctic wildlife, collectively support a burgeoning interest in Southern Ocean tourism.

4. Protection status and needs

4.1 National protection status

New Zealand, some parts of French, and South African breeding islands are formally protected as nature reserves. New Zealand and South African breeding islands have current management plans controlling human activities. Accorded Near Threatened status in the current update of the South African Red Data Book.

4.2 International protection status

New Zealand breeding islands are inscribed (1998) as natural properties on the World Heritage List of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. CCAMLR regulations aim to reduce mortality in the Patagonian Toothfish longline fishery. Not listed by CITES or in Birds to Watch 2 (1994), but is a candidate species with a Near Threatened status in current revision of the IUCN Red Data Book for birds being undertaken by BirdLife International.

4.3 Additional protection needs

Inclusion in Appendix II of the Bonn Convention and within a range-state Agreement for Southern Ocean seabirds at risk from longline fisheries. Inclusion within National Plans to be produced by longline fishing range states as part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. Unregulated fishing for Patagonian Toothfish needs to be halted and CCAMLR regulations strictly enforced. All unprotected breeding localities require nature reserve status and management plans which strictly control introduction of predators as well as human disturbance from logistical, scientific and tourist activities. Feral cats should be eradicated at all breeding localities where they are present, as was achieved successfully at Marion Island.

5. Range Statesa

Angola (M), Argentina (M), Australia (M) Brazil (M), Chile (M), France (B), Mozambique (M), Namibia (M), New Zealand (B), Norway (Bouvet Island, M), Peru (M), South Africa (B), Uruguay (M) and United Kingdom (B).

aB = breeding range, M = occurs solely as a migrant. 6. Additional remarks

Population sizes and trends in numbers of breeding birds are inadequately known. Although the White-chinned Petrel is still abundant, the high levels of mortality from longline fisheries and from introduced predators strongly suggest the species is at conservation risk.

7. References

Ashford, J.R. & J.P. Croxall. 1998. An assessment of CCAMLR measures employed to mitigate seabird mortality in longlining operations for Dissostichus eleginoides around South Georgia. 75 Proposal II / 8

CCAMLR Science 5: 217-230. Barnes, K. N., Ryan, P.G. & C. Boix-Hinzen. 1997. The impact of the hake Merluccius spp. longline fishery of South Africa on procellariiform seabirds. Biological Conservation 82: 227-234. Bartle, J.A. 1991. Incidental capture of seabirds in the New Zealand subantarctic squid trawl fishery, 1990. Bird Conservation International 1: 351-359. Berrow, S.D., Wood, A.G. & P.A. Prince. submitted ms. Foraging location and range of White- chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis breeding in the South Atlantic. Journal of Avian Biology. Berruti, A., Cooper, J. & I.P. Newton. 1995. Morphometrics and breeding biology of the Whitechinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Ostrich 66: 74-80. Brooke, R.K. 1984. South African Red Data Book – Birds. South African National Scientific Programmes Report 97: 1-213. Brothers, N.P., Cooper, J. & S. Løkkeborg. 1998. The incidental catch of seabirds by longline fisheries: world-wide review and technical guidelines for mitigation. FAO Fisheries Circular 937: 1-99 (preliminary version). CCAMLR. 1998. Report on the Working Group of Fish Stock Assessment. Hobart, Australia: 12-22 October 1998. SC-CCAMLR-XVII/4. Cherel, Y., Weimerskirch, H. & G. Duhamel. 1996. Interactions between longline vessels and seabirds in Kerguelen waters and a method to reduce seabird mortality. Biological Conservation 75: 63-70. Collar, N.J., Crosby, M.J. & A.J. Stattersfield. 1994. Birds to Watch 2: The World list of threatened birds. Birdlife Conservation Series 4. Cambridge: Birdlife International. Cooper, J., Marais, A.v.N., Bloomer, J.P. & M.N. Bester. 1995. A success story: breeding of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) before and after the eradication of feral cats Felis catus at subantarctic Marion Island. Marine Ornithology 23: 33-37. Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & J. Sargatal (Eds). 1992. Handbook of the birds of the World. Vol. 1. Ostrich to ducks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. Dingwall P.R. (Ed). Progress in conservation of the Subantarctic islands. Gland and Cambridge: IUCN. FAO 1998. Consultation on the Management of Fishing Capacity, Shark Fisheries and Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. Rome, 26-30 October 1998. International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. FI:CSS/98/4. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Hall, A.J. 1987. The breeding biology of the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis at South Georgia. Journal of Zoology, London 212: 605-617. Jones, E. 1980. A survey of burrow-nesting petrels at Macquarie Island based upon remains left by predators. Notornis 27: 11-20. Jouventin, P., Mougin, J.-L. Stahl, J.-C. & H. Weimerskirch. 1985. Comparative biology of the burrowing petrels of the Crozet Islands. Notornis 32: 158-220. Marchant, S. & P.J. Higgins. 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Vol. 1, Part A. Ratites to petrels. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Moreno, C.A., Rubilar, P.S., Marschoff, E. & L. Benzaquen. 1996. Factors affecting the incidental mortality of seabirds in the Dissostichus elegenoides fishery in the south-west Atlantic (Subarea 48.3, 1995 season). CCAMLR Science 3: 79-91. Murray, T.E., Bartle, J.A., Kalish, S.R. & P.R. Taylor. 1993. Incidental capture of seabirds by Japanese Southern Bluefin Tuna longline vessels in New Zealand waters. Bird Conservation International 3: 181-210. Neves, T. & F. Olmos. 1997. Albatross mortality in fisheries off the coast of Brazil. In: Robertson, G. & Gales, R. (Eds). Albatross biology and conservation. Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty. Olmos, F. 1997. Seabirds attending bottom longline fishing off south-eastern Brazil. Ibis 139: 685- 691. Ryan, P.G. 1987. The incidence and characteristics of plastic particles ingested by seabirds. Marine Environmental Research 23: 175-206. Ryan P.G. & C. Boix-Hinzen. 1998. Tuna longline fisheries off southern Africa: the need to limit seabird bycatch. South African Journal of Science 94: 179-182. Ryan, P.G. & C. Boix-Hinzen. in press. Consistent male-biased seabird mortality in the Patagonian Toothfish longline fishery. Auk. 76 Proposal II / 8

Ryan, P.G., Boix-Hinzen, C., Enticott, J.W., Nel, D.C., Wanless, R. & M. Purves. 1997. Seabird mortality in the longline fishery for Patagonian Toothfish at the Prince Edward Islands:1996-1997. CCAMLR-WG-FSA 97/51. Ryan, P.G. & M.G. Purves. 1998. Seabird bycatch in the Patagonian Toothfish longline fishery at the Prince Edward Islands: 1997-1998. CCAMLR-WG—FSA 98/36. Tutui, S.L.S., Taigo, G.G., Bastos, G.C.C., Zavala-Camin, L.A. & A.R.G. Tomás. ms. Species composition of the bottom longline fishery off south-eastern Brazil. 10 pp. Van Aarde R.J. 1980. The diet and feeding behaviour of feral cats, Felis catus on Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 10: 123-128. Van Rensburg, P.J.J. 1985. The feeding ecology of a decreasing feral house cat, Felis catus, population at Marion Island. In: Siegfried W.R. & Condy P.R. (Eds). Antarctic nutrient cycles and food webs. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. 620-624. Van Rensburg, P.J.J. & M.N. Bester. 1988. The effect of cat Felis catus predation on three breeding Procellariidae species on Marion Island. South African Journal of Zoology 23: 301-305 Vaske, T. 1991. Seabirds mortality on longline fishing for tuna in southern Brazil. Ciencia e Culture 43: 388-390. Weimerskirch, H., Catard, A., Prince, P.A., Cherel, Y. & J.P. Croxall. 1999. Foraging White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis at risk: from the tropics to Antarctica. Biological Conservation 87: 273-275. Woehler, E.J. 1996. Concurrent decreases in five species of Southern Ocean seabirds in Prydz Bay. Polar Biology 16: 379-382.